Scoliosis Pain Management and Treatment

Signs & Symptoms

Over 7 million people in the United States are affected by scoliosis, which is actually a descriptive term , not an actual disease. Scoliosis describes a curvature of the spine sometimes appearing to look like an S when viewed in an xray. This curvature can lead to a great deal of pain because of the added strain it places on the muscles in the back and the pressure placed on the other joints and bones in the body. The symptoms of scoliosis are varied but can include uneven muscles on tone side of the spine, hips being uneven lengths, a rib or shoulder blade that sticks out, and nerves responding slowly.

How Scoliosis Is Caused

Most usually the causes of scoliosis are unknown, or idiopathic, but are classified by doctors based on the age of the patient. Though the cause is not always obvious, most physicians believe that idiopathic scoliosis in children is caused by genetics. Occasionally scoliosis is present at birth due to a congenital birth defect to the vertebrae. In even fewer cases this spinal condition is seen as secondary to another diseases, condition, and illness. Some of the conditions that are commonly seen with scoliosis are:

Connective tissue disorders

Spina Bifida

Amniotic Band Syndrome

Muscular Dystrophy

and many others

Potential Treatment and Management Options

There are many treatment options that a physician may choose to use when treating scoliosis. The treatment path will depend on many factors including severity, causes, and age of the patient. The potential treatments include physical and occupational therapy, bracing, surgery, and more.

Typically a physician will start with either physical therapy or occupational therapy. Both of these are non invasive and preferable to more extreme options. Using physical therapy to treat scoliosis has been used for decades to improve the severity of the curvature. Occupational therapy is designed to help scoliosis patients lead a more normal, physically active life but not always to correct the scoliosis.

Bracing can be more uncomfortable but is designed to limit any further curving of the spine. In some cases the brace is worn all day, including while sleeping. The braces themselves have many different designs, but all cover the entire torso from hip to shoulders.

Surgery is typically only used in the worst and most severe cases that interfere with sitting and normal functions, like breathing. Fusion surgery, either anterior or posterior is the most common surgical option used to treat scoliosis. There are many different fusion techniques an orthopedic surgeon can use but all involve the use of screws and rods.

Finding The Right Scoliosis Care

Choosing a medical professional to treat scoliosis can be difficult. In many cases you may only be able to find someone who is able to treat one aspect of the disorder. That is why going to a group, like the Illinois one and Joint Institute is so important. IBJI can offer you access to all forms of treatment and professionals. We not only give you access to your physician but to a physical therapist, complete diagnostic imaging, and psychological assistance we offer a holistic treatment package. Make an appointment with one of our orthopedic physicians today to start making use of our complete scoliosis medical treatment.

This information is not intended to provide advise or treatment for a specific situation. Consult your physician and medical team for information and treatment plans on your specific condition(s).